Feed mechanism for slicing machines



May 13, 1941. A. A. KOTTMANN M FOR SLICING MACHINES FEED MECHANIS FiledDec 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Arthur A-Kottmann y 941. A. A.YKOTTMANN 2,242,181

FEED MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 2I\ INVENTOR Arthur A-Kottmann ATTORNEYS y 1941- A. A. KOTTMANN 2,242,181

FEED MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Dec. 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR flrthurfl Kattmann ATTORNEYS Patented May 13, 1941 UNITEDSTATES ATENT OFFICE.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Arthur A. Kottmann, Davenport, Iowa,assignor to Micro-Westco, Incorporated, Bettendorf, Iowa, a corporationof Delaware Application December 16, 1937, Serial No. 180,150

19 Claims.

This invention relates to slicing machines and more particularly to amechanism for feeding articles to be sliced into and through thecutters.

It is an object of the invention to provide a feeding mechanism adaptedfor advancing articles having relatively broad front and rear surfaceareas and which are relatively unstable.

Another object is to provide a slicing machine feed in which pairs ofelements engage different portions of the rear sides of articles andcooperatively advance the articles through the machine.

Another object is to provide a pair of cooperating flight conveyorsarranged to simultaneously engage articles and advance them to andthrough the cutters, the separate conveyors each having flights whichengage dilferent portions of g the rear sides of articles.

Another object is to provide an improved guide rail arranged incombination with a pair of cooperative flight feed conveyors whichsimultaneously advance a series of articles through a cutter mechanism.

A further object is to provide a feed mechanism for slicing machineswhich is simple in design and construction and inexpensive tomanufacture. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the invention made in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken awayshowing a slicing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the manner of mountingthe article guide rails;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail, in section, taken substantially on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing an article such as is commonlyknown as Scotch bun bread in position to be advanced to the cuttingmechanism by cooperating flights on the feed conveyors;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to a longitudinal verticalsection through the machine shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating themovement of the articles to be sliced through the slicing machineunderthe influence of the cooperating infeed flight conveyors;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts removed, showing amodified construction of article hold-down and blade guide mounting;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken substantially onthe line 8-43 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation view, partly in section and with partsremoved, showing the construction of the modified mounting;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail taken substantially on the line I0l0 ofFig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modifiedconstruction for mounting the side guides on the supporting rods.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is abread slicing machine which is particularly fitted for slicingrelatively high loaves of bread which normally are relatively unstableand subject to excessive deformation if sliced in a machine such asemployed for ordinary loaves of bread. Reference to the drawings is bymeans of numerals and letters which indicate like parts throughout theseveral views. The machine comprises a supporting frame I ofconventional construction which houses cutter blades 2 mounted in theusual manner for vertical reciprocation. Two sets of the blades, mountedin frames and actuated by a motor (not shown), are arranged in the usualinterleaved fashion for alternate reciprocation in opposite directions.

A pair of cooperating top and bottom flight feed conveyors A and Badvance articles C to and through the blades 2 and onto a dischargeconveyor D. The feed conveyors A and B are actuated by driving chain 3which in turn is preferably driven in timed relation with spacedparallel endless side belts or chains 4 of discharge conveyor D from acommon drive shaft (not shown) so that flights 5 of the dischargeconveyor move to individually advance the sliced articles as they emergefrom the slicing mechanism under the influence of the feed conveyors Aand B. One end of the discharge conveyor D is supported by brackets 6secured to opposite sides of the slicing machine frame I, the bracketsservingas journals for conveyor shaft 1 which carries the rotatablesprockets supporting the chains 4. The opposite end of the dischargeconveyor D may be supported in any suitable manner, such as by awrapping machine (not shown) to which the sliced articles are delivered.

Pivoted at 8 to the brackets 6 are members 9 which carry plate l3extending across the ma- I chine and normally arranged to supportarticles moving from the cutters to the conveyor D. Along the edge ofthe ,plate l3 adjacent the cutting mechanism is bottom blade guide I 0of fibre or other nonmetallic material which hasfinger portionsextending between the cutters 2 and which also serves to support thearticles C during slicing. Cross member I! extending between oppositeside portions of the frame I supports the members 9 and plate I3 tolimit downward pivotal movement thereof and maintain the guides ID insubstantially horizontal position in alignment with article-supportingapron I2 of the discharge conveyor.

At the infeed end of the slicing machine a pair of supplementary sideframing members I4 and I5 rest upon and are secured to opposite sideportions of the frame I by studs I5, Fig. 5. Main shaft II for theconveyors A and B is journaled in the framing members I4 and i5, and onthe outside of framing member [4 the shaft has splined thereon, forlongitudinal sliding movement, a hand wheel I8 having a hub I9 formingone element of a jaw clutch. The

driven chain 3 actuates a sprocket Zll, loosely carried on the shaft IIbetween the framing member I l and the clutch hub I9. Hub 2| of thesprocket is in the form of a jaw clutch element for establishing adriving connection with the clutch element 19 of the hand wheel I8. theshaft I! thus engages or disengages the driven connection from the maindrive shaft to the feed conveyors A and B so that the latter may beconnected to run with the discharge conveyor D or to remain idle, asdesired.

Rotation of the clutch element H) with respect to the clutch element 2|adjusts the relative position of the flights of the conveyors A and Bwith respect to the relative position of the flights 5 of the dischargeconveyor D so that the latter move in proper timed relation to pick upthe sliced articles discharged from the slicing mechanism.

Side members 23 of the bottom feed conveyor A are secured to the framingmembers I4- and i5 and carry between them article-supporting apron Z4reinforced by cross members 25 secured to the side members 23.Longitudinally extending angle members 26 are secured along the outsideof top marginal edges of side members 23 and have flanges directedtoward one another in spaced overlying relation with respect to sidemarginal portions of the apron 24, to provide longitudinally extendingchannels ZI which house side belts or chains 28 during their travel overthe upper lap of the feed conveyorA. The endless side chains 28, at theend of the conveyor A towards the slicing mechanism, are carried aroundsprockets secured on the shaft l1, and over relatively small guidesprockets 3| journaled on stub shafts carried by the framing members I4and i5. At the opposite end the endless side chains are carried overidler sprockets 32 loosely journaled on shaft 33 carried in end housing34 which is supported by standard 35 and secured to the extremities ofside members 23.

The conveyor A may be of any suitable length to permit the loadingthereof with articles to be sliced, it being understood that thisconveyor serves to individually advance the articles toward the slicingmechanism before the conveyor B cooperates therewith to forward thearticles to and through the blades 2.

Idler sprockets 3! engage the bottom laps, of the side chains 28adjacent the sprockets 3i] and are carried adjustably by stub shafts 38secured in elongated slots 39 formed in the supplementary framingmembers I4 and I5.

By means of the sprockets 30 the side chains 28 are driven insynchronous timed relation so Axial movement of the hand wheel I8 on.

that bottom flights 40 carried between the side chains at uniformlyspaced intervals move forward over the apron 24 in spaced parallelrelation with one another. The flights 40 present substantially planarsurfaces 4I, which are substantially normal to the surface of the apron24, to the rear sides of articles being advanced, and are maintained inthis upright position by shoes 42 which ride on the side marginalportions of apron in trading relation with respect to the flights. Eachflight is pivoted at 43 to the side chains 28 ahead of thearticle-contacting surface 4 I.

As a flight of the conveyor A approaches the end of itsarticle-advancing movement the pivots 43 ride around the guide sprockets3| and the shoes 12 ride past the ends of the track portions of theapron 24 by which they are supported, so that the flight dropsvertically downward past the end of the apron 24, formed into adepending flange 45, and is ineffective to exert further pressureagainst the rear of the article being advanced.

Articles advanced beyond the flange 45 of the apron 24 are supported bya transverse plate 41 which extends across the slicing machineimmediately ahead of the reciprocable cutters 2 and has anarticle-supporting surface substantially flush with the apron 24. Thisplate is carried by a supporting member 49 pivoted at 50 in thesupplementary framing members l4 and I5 and actuated externally of theslicing machine frame by lever BI. 41, which is adjacent the cutters 2,normally rests upon the finger portions of the bottom blade guides Ill.

The upper feed conveyor 13 is carried by frame members 54 and 55adjustably supported by vertically elongated slots 56 which receivestuds 51 threaded into the slicer frame I and vertically elongated slots58 which receive studs 59 threadedly secured in uprights 60 attached toside members 23 of the bottom feed conveyor A. Cross tie bars 6i retainthe frame members 54 and 55 in parallel spaced relation with oneanother. A pair of endless sidebelts or chains 63 carry the flights forthe upper feed conveyor. These chains are carried over upper sprockets64 and lower sprockets 65 at the slicer end of the conveyor B. Upperguide sprockets 66 carry the chains 63 at the end of the conveyor mostremote from the slicing mechanism, and lower guide sprockets 61 engagethe side chains at the portion of the conveyor B substantially at theregion where articles are effectively engaged by the flights of theupper feed conveyor. Sprockets 64, 55, 65, and B! are carried on stubshafts 68, 69, I5, and II, respectively, secured in the frames 54 and55.

The conveyor side chains 63 are driven in synchronous relation by drivenshaft I3, which extends transversely across the conveyor and isjournaled in the frames 54 and 55. This shaft has adjustably securedthereon a sprocket I4 which carries an endless drive chain I5 actuatedby a sprocket 16 secured on main shaft I'I.

Idler sprocket I2 is adjustably mounted on the machine frame and engagesthe chain to compensate for changes in the distance between thesprockets i and I6 occasioned by raising or lowering the conveyor B.Rotation thus imparted to the shaft I3 is transmitted to the sprockets64 by gears 11 secured on the shaft I3 and gears 18 secured on the endsof stub shafts 68 which are journaled in the frame members 54 and 55 andhave secured thereto the conveyor drive sprock- The marginal edge 52 ofthe blade ets 64. In this manner the conveyor Bis driven in timedrelation with the conveyor A and the gears TI and I8 impart a reversemotion to the side chains 63 so that the bottom lap of the conveyor Bmoves in the same direction and at the I same speed as the upper lap ofconveyor A.

Flights 80 of the conveyor B present a substantially planar surface 8|to the rear sides of articles being advanced, this surface normallybeing parallel to the surface M of the flights 40 so that the tWoflights cooperatively present a broad article-contacting surface topress against the rear sides of articles in advancing them to andthrough the reciprocable cutters 2. Each of the flights 80 is pivoted at82 to the side chains 63 rearwardly of its article-contacting surface BIand during engagement with the rear side of an article is held inparallel relation with respect to the surfaces 4| of the flights 40 byrearwardly extending shoes 83 which ride on guides 84 secured to theframes 54 and 55. The bottom laps of the chains 63 are supported byhorizontal plates 85 secured along the bottom edges of the frames 54 and55 and disposed in underlying relation with respect to the side chainsand the shoes 83.

In moving to the initial article-advancing position indicated by theflight 80a of Fig. 6, the flights 80 move in a path 86 which is obliquewith respect to the path of the articles C. Flight 800 (Fig. 6) whichhas just rounded upper guide sprockets I58 is shown at the beginning ofthe oblique flight path. During the movement of flights 20 over thispath they are gradually lowered into position behind the articles Cwhich meanwhile are being advanced by flights 40 of the conveyor A. Thisgradual movement of the flights 80 into position behind the articles,while they are freely suspended from the pivots 82 enables them tobecome adjusted to the rear of the articles so that when they arebrought into vertical position by the guides 84 there is a minimum ofrelative movement between the flights and articles. The linear movementof the side chains 53 of the upper conveyor B is the same as that of theside chain 28 of the conveyor A. Since the chains 53 move in a directionat an angle with respect to the direction of article movement while theflights 80 move over the oblique path 86, the rate of travel of theflights 80 parallel to the direction of article movement is less thanthat of the flights 40 and the articles advanced thereby. In this mannera retarding of the flights 80 is eifected to aiTord an opportunity forthem to fall behind the articles C before reaching the position 883a.This novel arrangement of flight approach is particularly advantageouswhere one conveyor of a cooperating pair, in this instance the conveyorB, is materially shorter than the other, in this instance the conveyorA. A closer spacing of the flights is permitted, thus decreasing theintervals between articles.

During movement of the articles C over the plate 4'! their uppersurfaces are contacted by a hold-down plate 81 carried by supportingmember 88 jo'urnaled at 89 in the frames 54 and 55. The plate Bl may bepivoted by means of a lever 90 disposed on the outside of the frame 54and extending from the journal 89. Upper blade guides 9| preferablyformed of non-metallic material such as fibre are secured between theplate 81 and holding member 88 and have finger portions which extendbetween the reciprocable cut parts are more fully described in myco-pending application Serial No. 203,864 filed April 23, 1938.

Articles advancing to the slicing mechanism are engaged on oppositesides by guide rails 92 and 93. These rails are in the form oflongitudinally extending channel members carried by brackets 94 whichare secured to side members 23 of the conveyor A. Holes in the bracketsreceive horizontally adjustable rods 95 clamped in any desired positionby hand knobs 96 which have pressure studs threadedly received in thebrackets 94 and engageable with the rods 95. Guides 92 and 93 haveplates 97 extending between and secured to their flanges. are receivedin slots 98 of the plates 91 and are secured therein by rectangularholding elements 99 threadedly secured on reduced diameter end portionsof the rods 95 and tightening nuts I00 threaded on the rods 95. In eachinstance, the element 99 and nut I00 are disposed on opposite sides ofthe plate 98 and clamp the plate between them upon tightening of the nutI00.

Paddle guides I02 are attached to the ends of the guides 92 and 93adjacent the cutters 2, and afiord a wide surface for contacting andguiding the ends of the articles as the latter engage and pass throughthe cutters. the paddle guides I02, disposed toward the blades 2, may beadjusted longitudinally so as to vary the space between the cutters andthe guides by changing the position of the supporting rods 95 in theslots 98. Preferably vertical marginal edges I04 of the paddle guidesI02 are curved outwardly to avoid catching or snagging overhangingportions of articles.

Referring to Fig. 5 the construction of the flights 40 and of theconveyors A and B respectively is shown to advantage. Each of theseflights has relatively wide central portions I05; the portions I05 ofthe flights 40 being directed toward the portions I05 of the flights 80sothat the flights move along together with but a relatively slightclearance I06 therebetween, thus presenting a broad article-engagingsurface extending substantially from the top'to the bottom of eacharticle along the rear side thereof. The marginal portions I01 of theflights 40 and 80 are relatively narrow so that even when the conveyorsA and B are adjusted so that the clearance I06 is relatively small thereis a relatively large space I08 at each side of the central portions I05to permit the passage of the flights past the guides 92 and 93 when thelatter are relatively close together for short articles.

Bottom marginal edges I09 of the flights 40 pass closely adjacent thetop surface of the conveyor apron 24 so as to contact the articles asnear the bottom edge thereof as possible, thus increasing theeffectiveness of the flights to push the articles through the cutters.

Fig. 6 shows the position of the conveyors substantially at the instantone of the flights (indicated at 80a) of the upper conveyor B becomeseifective to bear evenly against the rear side of article CI to advancethe latter and push it toward the cutters 2. The shoes 83 of the flightshave moved down inclined portions IIO of the guides 84 and are about tomove onto horizontal. track portions H2. During the travel of theflights 80 over the article-advancing portion of their path the shoes 83move between the guides 84 and plates which hold the flights with thearticle-contacting surfaces 8I substantially vertical. The portion ofthe path of the flights 80 during which they are efiective to forwardar- The ends of the rods 95,

Marginal edge I03 of ticles to the cutters is during their travel frombottom guide sprockets 61 to lower sprockets 65. As the flights commencemoving around sprocket 65 the shoes 83 are released by corners N4 ofguides 8G. The position of the flights 80 at the instant of release bythe guides 84 is illustrated at 8% (Fig. 1). From the time of releaseand while the flights are moving from the lower sprockets 65 to theupper sprockets 64 they hang freely suspended from the pivots 82 withthe article-engaging faces 8| substantially vertical. Accordingly, theflights 8!! are withdrawn from the path of the article C in a directionsubstantially at right angles with respect thereto and without rotation,thus enabling the sprockets 64 and 55 to be located relatively close tothe cutters 2, if desired.

At substantially the time of release of a flight 80 by the guides 88, asdescribed above, the coacting flight 4D rides over the sprockets 3! andis released by the shoes 42 riding over the ends of the track portion ofthe conveyor apron 24 and dropping below depending lip H5. The positionof the flights as they are released in this manher is indicated at 48b(Fig. 1). During the travel of the flights 40 from the guide sprockets3| to the drive sprockets 30 they are withdrawn from the path of thearticles in a direction substantial- 1y at right angles with respectthereto, this direction being parallel to the direction of withdrawal ofthe flights 88. Thus the flights 4B and 80 are simultaneously withdrawnfrom the article path in parallel opposite directions so that the nextsucceeding article, indicated at C2, has a clear course and isunobstructed by preceding flights in its movement to position behindprevious loaves. As the flights 49 move vertically downward thearticle-engaging faces 4! thereof remain in a substantially verticalposition until the upper marginal edges of the central portions I05 movepast the bottom edges of depending flange of the apron 24 after whichthey swing downwardly and hang suspended from the pivots 43. The flight180 of Fig. 6 shows the position of the flights just prior to release bythe flange 45.

In the embodiment illustrated the flights 40 and 88 are not in contactwith an article being sliced. An article C3 moving through the blades isseparated from the article Cl, being advanced by the flights, by anintermediate article Ct to effect a cushioning action and promote a moreefllcient slicing operation. At the instant of re-. lease of the flights43 and 80 by the track portion of apron 2t and guides at the article Clhas been moved onto the plate 41 and the article C4 has moved into theblades or cutters 2 so that it is partially sliced. The article C dwellsin the position illustrated in Fig. 1 until the flights of the conveyorsA and B advance the next article C2 against the rear side of article CIto push the article Cd completely through the cutters. It is desirablethat the dwell of each article in the cutters while waiting for the nextarticle to be brought up by the flights of the feed conveyors be reducedto a minimum. According to the present invention this is accomplished byhaving the flights of both the conveyor A and conveyor B relativelyclose together so that the space intervening between successive loavesis minimized. Such a construction is possible on account of the use oftwo cooperative conveyors each having flights which engage the rearsides of the articles. For the same effective article-contacting surfacethe individual flights of a pair of cooperative conveyors can berelatively lower and extend a shorter distance into the path of thearticles than the flights of a single conveyor. Accordingly, for thesame conveyor speed, the time required to withdraw the pair ofcooperating flights 4D and from the path of articles moving to thecutters is about half the time required to withdraw single flightshaving the same effective article-contacting surface.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated the relative positions of flights 40 and 80 asthey engage the rear side of a tall article E, such as a loaf of Scotchbun bread. This bread is made by simultaneously baking a multiplicity ofdough blobs in a large pan. When the baked loaves are separated from oneanother those from the center of the pan have heavy crusts l I! and H8on top and bottom respectively, but none on the sides. Accordingly, itis essential for eflicient and uniform slicing that the flights 40 and8D bear against the edges of the top and bottom crusts of the leaves asthey move to the cutters so that the crusts of preceding loaves areproperly forced through the blades. Accordingly, the conveyor B isadjusted vertically by means of slots 56 and 58 and studs 51 and 59 sothat the marginal edges H9 of the flights 80 which correspond to themarginal edges E09 of the flights 40 are above the top crust ll! of theloaves E to insure that both crusts are engaged by the flights. In theevent of extremely tall loaves, the space or clearance I06 between thecentral portions I05 of the flights is increased. This is notundesirable, however, since the central portions of the loaves arerelatively soft and do not offer great resistance when pushed throughthe cutters 2. When the conveyor B is raised or lowered with respect tothe conveyor A, the difference in the distance between the sprockets 14and 15 effects a tightening or slackening of the chain 15, which must becompensated by adjustment of the position of the idler sprocket 12. Ifdesired, the idler sprocket may be resiliently mounted orspring-pressed, as wellknown, to automatically adjust itself to maintainthe chain 15 taut.

Some loaves have an overproof 20 about the top, such as shown on a fewof the articles C, which is caused by the dough extending beyond the topmarginal edges of the bake pans while being baked. If the flights 80 ofthe upper conveyor B have their article-engaging surfaces 8[ flush withthe article-engaging surfaces 4| of the flights 40, each loaf would beslightly tilted while being advanced under the cooperative influence ofthe conveyors A and B. To compensate for such overproof, the flights 80of the upper conveyor B may be adjusted so that their articlecontactingsurfaces 8| are in a plane parallel with the plane of surfaces 4! ofbottom conveyor flights 4!], but slightly to the rear thereof. This isshown by the relative positions of the flights 40b and 88b of Fig. 1.Adjustment of this nature is accomplished by slightly rotating the shaft13 with respect to the shaft H in any well-known manner, such as bychanging the position of set screw [2| which secures sprocket M on shaft13. Similarly, the conveyors A and B may be adjusted to compensate forunderproof, or loaves or articles wider at the bottom than at the top.In such case the flights 80 of the conveyor B are moved ahead of theflights All of the conveyor A. An adjustment of this character is madeby rotating the shaft 13 with respect to the shaft l'l so that theflights Bl) during their article-advancing movement have theircontacting faces 8! disposed in planes slightly in advance of the planesof the article-contacting surfaces M of the flights 40.

In Figs. '1 through 10 inclusive is illustrated a modified. mounting forthe article hold-down and cutter guide. The hold-down assembly iscarried by an adjustable bracket mounted on a cross member I24 of theframe I. The bracket has a pair of spaced parallel vertical legs I25 andI26 which are joined together adjacent their upper ends by a connectorI21. Wing bolts I28 threadedly secured in the cross member I24 exten-dthrough vertical elongated slots I29 formed in the legs I25 and I26 ofthe brackets so that the latter may be held in various verticalpositions with respect to the cross member I24 of the machine frame.

The supporting plate 88 for the hold-down plate 81 has secured on itsupper surface a pair of journal bosses I36 and a shaft or rod I3Iextends through these bosses I30 and is pivotally carried in heelportions I 32 formed at thebottom of the legs I25 and I26. In thismanner the hold-down and guide unit is pivotally suspended from thebottom of the bracket so that the blade guides 9| may be swung into andout of position between the cutters 2.

To maintain the article guide plate or holddown 81 in properarticle-contacting position a foot I34 is formed at the bottom of eachof the legs I25 and I26 and extends toward the cutters 2 in asubstantially horizontal direction parallel to the path of articlemovement from the pivots or journals I32. Latches or-toggles I35 areslidable on the pivot bar or rod I 3I adjacent each of the journals I32and have axially directed fingers I36 engageabl with the top surfaces ofthe feet I34. Threadedly secured in each of the latches I35 andadjustable to bear against the upper surface of the plate 98 is a wingbolt I31.

These wing bolts are in the ends of the latches I35 opposite the fingersI36 and on opposite sides of the pivot bar I3I therefrom. When thelatches I35 are disposed closely adjacent the legs and feet I34 of thebrackets, in the position indicated by the full lines of Fig. 10,fingers I36 overlie the feet I34 so that tightening of the wing boltsI31 retains the article hold-down and blade guide in the positionillustrated in Fig. 9, the plate 88 being disposed against the underside of the feet I34 and the wing bolts I31 preventing the guide andhold-down unit from pivoting, under the influence of gravity orotherwise, out of operative position. Loosening of the wing bolts I31permits sliding of the latches I35 away from the legs of the brackets topositions indicated by the broken lines of Fig. 10. Thus, the fingersI36 are disengaged from the feet I34 of the brackets so that the plates81 and 38 of the hold-down and uide assembly may be pivoted on the rod53! to bring the blade guide 9| clear of the frame I so that the guidesmay be removed from the plates 81' and 88 for cleaning or replacement,as desired.

Machines which have the modified articlehold-down and blade mountingillustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive may be quickly adjusted toaccommodate articles of different heights. It is not always desirable ornecessary to bodily adjust the upper conveyor B vertically with respectto the bottom conveyor A for every change in height of the articlesbeing sliced. By means of the modified mounting just described thearticle hold-down 81 and fiber or composition blade guide 9| may beadjusted to proper position with respect to the articles being slicedwithout alterin the position of the flights 86 with respect to theplates 49. Accordingly, a changeover of the machine from one articlesize to another may be accomplished without the delay which would benecessaryif the conveyor B were to be moved or adjusted vertically.

A modified construction for mounting the article guides 92 and 93 on theadjustable rods is illustrated in Fig. 11. The holding elements 99 arethreadedly secured on reduced diameter end portions I49 of the rods 95..Pressure or friction washers I4I are urged toward the holding elements99 by helical compression springs I42 which surround the rods 95 andbear against washers I43 retained by lock nuts I44. The lock nuts arethreaded on the ends of the rods 95 and may be adjusted to differentpositions to vary the force exerted on the friction washers I4I by thesprings I42- Preferably, a bevel I45 is provided on the face of each ofthe Washers I4I disposed toward the holding elements 99 so that theslots 98 in the plates 91 may be more readily slid over the rods 95 inplacing the side guides in position.

The mounting of the article guides 92 and 93 in the manner shown in thedrawings and described above has numerous advantages in connection withslicing machines which have removable blade frames for changing slicethickness. On account of the slots 98 in the guideholding plates 91, theguides 92 and 93 may be bodily removed from the adjustable holding rods95 without changing the positions of the latter with respect to theholding brackets 94. Accordingly, when the article side guides are setin the machine after changing the blade frames, the guides are in thesame position which they occupied before being removed, so that no further adjustment is necessary for slicing the same size of articles.Thus, when slicing articles of the same length, operation of the machineis speeded up, since it is unnecessary to adjust the side guides eachtime the slice thicknesses are changed.

The slicing machine of the present invention embodies numerous noveladvantages which render the mechanism particularly adaptable for. theslicing of extremely tall articles, there'being a cooperativearrangement between a pair of opposed infeed conveyors so that theflights of each conveyor cooperate with one another in advancingarticles to and through the cutters. The top and bottom of each articleare positively and simultaneously moved together.

Other modes of applying and utilizing the principles of the inventionmay be resorted to without departing from its scope, numerous changesand modifications of the various parts bein contemplated, the embodimentshown being given for purposes of explanation and illustration.

' What I claim is:

1. In a slicing machine, a cutter mechanism comprising a plurality ofspaced blades, a table for supporting an article during slicing, a pairof fli ht conveyors. each paralleling the path of ar icl s to the bladesand disposed on opposite sides. thereof, the flights of the conveyorsextending into said path and cooperatively engaging the rear sides'ofarticles to advance the articles to the blades, the flights on bothconveyors being withdrawn substantially simultaneously from engagementwith the articles at the end'of each article advancing movement andhaving central portions and marginal end portions, the central portionsextending further into the article path toward the opposite flights thanthe marginal portions, and article guides longer than one of theconveyors movable toward and away from one another between the marginalend portions of the cooperating flights.

2. In a slicing machine, a cutter mechanism comprising a plurality ofspaced blades, a table for supporting an article during slicing, a pairof flight conveyors, each paralleling the path of articles to the bladesand the conveyors disposed on opposite sides of, said path, the flightsof the conveyors extending into said path in pairs and cooperativelyengaging the rear sides of articles to advance the articles to theblades, and each pair of flights arranged to be withdrawn from thearticle path at the end of each article advancing movement in directionssubstantially parallel to one another and normal to the direction ofarticle movement.

3. In a bread slicing machine. a supporting structure, spaced cuttingelements mounted in the structure, a bottom conveyor having flights forengaging lower rear side portions of spaced articles being advanced tothe elements, a pair of frame members secured to the supportingstructure at an upper part of the latter and extending in generallyspaced parallel relation over the bottom conveyor, a top conveyorsupported by said members and having flights for engaging upper rearside portions of said articles, means for adjusting the top conveyorvertically with respect to the bottom conveyor, means for driving saidconveyors in synchronism, guide means disposed between said framemembers and arranged to slidingly engage the tops of articles advancingto the cutting elements and having finger portions extending between andin sliding contact with the cutting elements to guide the latter and toguide the articles during slicing, and means securing the guide means tothe supporting structure between the frame members, said supportingmeans having pivotal connection with the guide means and arranged forvertical adjustment on the supporting structure.

4. In a bread slicing machine, a supporting structure, spaced cuttingelements mounted in the structure, a bottom conveyor carried by thestructure and having flights for engaging lower rear side portions ofspaced articles advancing to the cutting elements, a pair of framemembers secured to the supporting structure at an upper part of thelatter and extending in generally spaced substantially parallel relationover the bottom conveyor, a top conveyor carried by the frame membersand having flights for engaging upper rear side portions of said spacedarticles, means for adjusting the frame members vertically with respectto the supporting structure to move the top conveyor toward or away fromthe bottom conveyor, means for driving said conveyrs in synchronousrelation in all positions of adjustment so that a flight of the topconveyor cooperates with a flight of the bottom conveyor to advance anarticle to the cutting elements, and guide means engageable with thetops of articles advancing to the cutting elements and having fingerportions extending between the cutters to guide the latter, said guidemeans being carried by the frame members and adjustable simultaneouslywith the top conveyor to accommodate articles of different height, andsaid finger portions being in sliding engagement with the cuttingelements on opposite sides thereof to resist twisting and lateralmovement of the cutting elements.

5. In a slicing machine, a supporting structiu'e, spaced cuttingelements mounted in the structure, and a conveyor for advancing articlesto the cutting elements, said conveyor comprising an endless belt havingspaced flights pivotally mounted thereon for engaging the rear sides ofindividual articles, rotatable members for supporting and actuating thebelt, one of said rotatable members being disposed substantially at theend of the conveyor remote from the cutting elements and removed fromthe path of the articles and another of said rotatable members beingdisposed at said remote end of the conveyor adjacent the article pathand closer to the plane of the cutting elements than said firstmentioned rotatable member whereby flights carried by the belt from thefirst mentioned to the second mentioned rotatable members move obliquelyrelative to the path of articles over a substantially rectilinear coursetoward the article path before engaging articles to advance the lattertoward the cutting elements, a third of said rotatable members beingdisposed toward the cutting elements from said second named rotatablemember and arranged so that the path of the belt between said secondnamed and third rotatable members substantially parallels the path ofthe articles being advanced to the cutting elements, said flights beingarranged to pivot relative to the belt during the movement of theflights from that portion of their path between the first mentioned andsecond mentioned rotatable members to that portion of their path betweenthe second mentioned and third rotatable members and means to drive oneof the rotatable members.

6. In a slicing machine, a supporting structure, spaced cutting elementsmounted in the structure, and a conveyor for advancing articles to thecutting elements, said conveyor comprising an endless belt having spacedflights thereon for engaging the rear sides of individual articles,rotatable members for supporting and actuating the belt, one of saidrotatable members being disposed substantially at the end of theconveyor remote from the cutting elements and removed from the path ofthe articles and another of. said rotatable members being disposed atsaid remote end of the conveyor adjacent the article path and closer tothe plane of the cutting elements than said first mentioned rotatablemember whereby flights carried by the belt from the first mentioned tothe second mentioned rotatable members move obliquely relative to thepath of articles over a substantially rectilinear course toward thearticle path before engaging articles to advance the latter toward thecutting elements, a third of said rotatable members being disposedtoward the cutting elements from said second named rotatable member andarranged so that the path of the belt between said second named andthird rotatable members substantially parallels the path of the articlesbeing advanced to the cutting elements, said flights being pivotallyconnected to the belt and each flight having a positioning extension,track means for engaging the flight extensions to retain the flights inarticle advancing position, said track arranged to engage the flightextensions during movement of the flights over a portion of the obliquerectilinear course and to maintain substantially continuous contacttherewith as the flights move over the article advancing portion oftheir path, said flights being arranged to pivot relative to the beltduring the movement of the flights from that portion of. their pathbetween the first mentioned and second mentioned rotatable members tothat portion of their path between the second mentioned and thirdrotatable members, and means to drive one of the rotatable members. 7. Aconveyor for individually advancing articles to the slicing mechanism ofa slicing machine co-mprising a pair of spaced parallel endless belts, aplurality of flights carried between the belts at substantially equalintervals, said flights being pivotally connected to the belts, eachbelt being trained over a plurality of rotatable members for supportingand actuating the belt including a pair of rotatable members at the endof the conveyor remote from the slicing mechanism, one memberof each ofsaid pairs being removed from the path of the articles and the othermember of each of said pairs being adjacent the article path and closerto the plane of. the cutting mechanism than said first mentioned memberof the pair whereby flights carried by the belts from the remote membersof the pairs to the adjacent members of the pairs move obliquelyrelative to the path of the articles over a substantially rectilinearcourse toward the article path before engaging articles to advance thelatter toward the slicing mechanism, a third rotatable member for eachbelt being disposed toward the cutting elements from said second namedmember of the pair and arranged so that the path of the belt trainedthereover between said second named member and the third member,substantially parallels the path of the articles being advanced to thecutting elements, the flights being arranged to pivot relative to thebelts during the movement of the flights from said rectilinear course tothat portion of their path between said second named members and saidthird rotatable members, and means to synchronously drive the endlessbelts through the rotatable members.

8. In a slicing machine having a movable slicing mechanism to which asuccession of articles are advanced over an infeed course, a pair ofendless conveyors each having an inner lap adjacent and substantiallyparalleling said course, a plurality of. pivotally mounted flights oneach conveyor arranged to project into the article course during theirmovement over the inner laps of the conveyors, the spaces betweensuccessive flights being substantially equal on both conveyors, a guidemeans extending longitudinally of the conveyors and having articlecontacting faces disposed closer together than the width of the flights,means for retaining the article contacting faces of the flights oi thetwo conveyors in parallel relation to one another during their movementover the inner laps of the conveyors, means driving the conveyors insynchronization so that during article advancing movement the articleengaging faces of the flights on one conveyor are disposed insubstantially the same planes as the article engaging faces of theflghts on the other conveyor, and means for adjusting one of theconveyors toward or away from the other conveyor to vary the distancebetween the parallel inner laps of. the conveyors in accordance with thesize of the articles being advanced over the infeed course.

9. In a slicing machine having a movable slicing mechanism to which asuccession of articles are advanced over an infeed course, a pair ofendless conveyors each having an inner lap adjacent and substantiallyparalleling said course, a plurality of pivotally mounted flights oneach conveyor arranged to project into the article course during theirmovement over the inner laps of the conveyors, the spaces betweensuccessive flights being substantially equal on both conveyors, a guidemeans extending longitudinally of the conveyors and having articlecontacting faces disposed closer together than the width of the flights,means for retaining the article contacting faces of the flights of. thetwo conveyors in parallel relation to one another during their movementover the inner laps of the conveyors, means driving the conveyors insynchronization so that during article advancing movement the articleengaging faces of the flights on one conveyor are disposed insubstantially the same planes as the article engaging faces of theflights on the other conveyor, means for adjusting the drive means toslightly advance all of the flights of one conveyor with respect to theflights of the other conveyor during their movement over the inner lapsof the conveyors, and means for adjusting one of the conveyors toward oraway from the other conveyor to vary the distance between the parallelinner laps of the conveyors in accordance with the size of the articlesbeing advanced over the infeed course.

10. In a bread slicing machine, a supporting structure, spaced cuttingelements mounted in the structure, a bottom conveyor carried by thestructure and having flights for engaging lower portions of articlesadvancing to the cutting elements, over an infeed course, a top conveyorsupported above the bottom conveyor and having flights for engagingupper portions of articles moving over said course, said top conveyorflights arranged to approach the article course over a rectilinear pathoblique to said course and having one component of movement parallelingthe article movement, and the top conveyor overlapping the bottomconveyor for a sufficient distance so that each article is advanced byboth conveyors simultaneously for a distance at least equal to one fightspacing, said top conveyor flights arranged to engage articles movingover said course subsequent to the engagement thereof by the bottomconveyor flights.

11. In a slicing machine having a movable slicing mechanism towhich asuccession of articles are advanced over an infe'ed course, a pair ofendless conveyors each having an inner lap adjacent and substantiallyparalleling said course, a plurality of flights on each conveyorarranged to project into the article course during their movement overthe inner laps of the conveyors, the spaces between successive flightsbeing substantially equal on both conveyors, means driving the conveyorsin synchronization so that during article advancing movement the articleengaging faces of the flights on one conveyor are disposed insubstantially the same planes as the article engaging faces of theflights on the other conveyonand pivotal connections between the fightsand the conveyors, the flights of. one conveyor being pivoted in advanceof the planes of their article engaging surfaces and the flights of theother conveyor being pivoted behind the planes of their article engagingsurfaces.

12. In a slicing machine, an apron on which articles are supported andadvanced, a plurality of flights movable in succession and insubstantially parallel relation over the apron to engage portions of theapron and extending laterally thereover above the path of marginal endportions of the flights, and slide means for mounting the guide memberson the inner ends of the supporting members, said slide means arrangedto disconnect the guide members from the supporting members upon slightlongitudinal movement of the guide members and to reestablish aconnection between the supporting and guide me bcrs upon slightlongitudinal movement of the guide members in the opposite direction.

13. In a slicing machine having a multiplicity of spaced cuttersdisposed in approximately a common cutting plane, a conveyor foradvancing articles over an infeed path into the cutter comprising aplurality of rotatable members, an endless flexible member trained overthe rotatable members and supported thereby, a plurality of flightsconnected to the flexible member, and means for actuating one of therotatable members, there being one pair of rotatable members disposed atthe end of the conveyor adjacent the cutting plane and a second pair ofrotatable members disposed at the end of the conveyor remote from thecutting plane, one member of each pair being of lesser diameter than theother and disposed adjacent the article path, the lesser diametermembers being arranged so that the run of the flexible member extendingtherebetween substantially parallels the article path, the pair ofmembers adjacent the cutting plane being arranged so that the run of theflexible member extending therebetween substantially parallels thecutting plane, and the second pair of rotatable members being arrangedso that the run of the flexible member extending therebetween is obliqueto the article path with the larger diameter member of. the pair moreremote from the cutting plane than the lesser diameter member.

14. In a slicing machine having a multiplicity of spaced cuttersdisposed in approximately a common cutting plane, a pair of conveyorsarranged in approximate parallelism to one another for advancingarticles over an infeed path into the cutters, each conveyor comprisinga plurality of rotatable members, an endless flexible member trainedover the rotatable members of each conveyor, a plurality of flightsconnected to each flexible member at uniform intervals, and means foractuating one of the rotatable members, each conveyor having a pair ofrotatable members disposed at the end thereof adjacent the cuttingplane, one rotatable member of each pair being of larger diameter thanthe other and the lesser diameter rotatable members of the two conveyorsbeing adjacent the article path, and said pairs of members each beingarranged so that the runs of the flexible members extending therebetweensubstantially parallel the cutting plane.

15. A mechanism for individually advancing articles to the slicingmechanism of a slicing machine, comprising a bottom conveyor havingupwardly directed flights thereon for engaging lower rear side portionsof spaced articles being 7 advanced, a top conveyor having downwardlydirected flights thereon for engaging upper rear side portions of spacedarticles being advanced, said flights of the two conveyors actingcooperatively in pairs and each having a central article engagingportion and a marginal end portion, the central portion extendingfurther into the article path than the marginal end portion, an articleguide disposed longitudinally of the conveyors and having an articleengaging face which extends above the normal level of the edges of thecentral portions of the top conveyor flights and below the normal levelof the edges of the central portions of the bottom conveyor flights, andmeans for supporting the guide and adjusting the same laterally withrespect to the conveyors between the marginal end portions of the topand bottom conveyor flights.

16. A mechanism for individually advancing articles to the slicingmechanism of a slicing machine, comprising a pair of flight conveyorseach having an inner run paralleling the path of articles beingadvanced, said runs being disposed in confronting relation with respectto one another and each conveyor having spaced flights which projectinto the article path, flights of one conveyor being paired with flightsof the other conveyor during the movement thereof over said runs tocooperatively engage the rear sides of articles and advance the sametoward the slicing mechanism, said flights each having a central articleengaging portion and a marginal end portion, the central portionextending further into the article path than the marginal end portionand having an edge spaced from the like edge of the flight of the otherconveyor paired therewith, an article guide disposed longitudinally ofthe conveyors and having an article engaging face which is wider thanthe normal space between the edges of the central portions of each pailof cooperating flights, and means for supporting the guide and adjustingthe same laterally with respect to the conveyors between the marginalend portions of the cooperating conveyor flights.

1'7. A mechanism for individually advancing articles to the slicingmechanism of a slicing machine, comprising a pair of flight conveyorseach having an inner run paralleling the path of articles beingadvanced, said runs being disposed in confronting relation with respectto one another and each conveyor having spaced flights which projectinto the article path, flights of one conveyor being paired with flightsof the other conveyor during the movement thereof over said runs tocooperatively engage the rear sides of articles and advance the sametoward the slicing mechanism, the flights on one of said conveyors eachhaving a central article engaging portion and a marginal end portion,the central portion extending further into the article path than themarginal end portion and having an edge spaced from an edge of theflight of the other conveyor paired therewith, an article guide disposedlongitudinally of the conveyors and having an article engaging facewhich extends beyond said edges of the central portions of the flightsand into the space between the flights, and means for supporting theguide and adjusting the same laterally with respect to the conveyors andover said marginal end portions of the flights.

18. In a slicing machine, a frame structure, spaced cutters and meansfor actuating the same, a bottom conveyor comprising means forsupporting articles advancing to the cutters, and a plurality of spacedflights and means for advancing the same in upright position over thesupporting means, a pair of spaced frame members secured to thestructure and extending in generally parallel relation over the bottomconveyor, a top conveyor comprising spaced parallel endless members andmeans mounting the same on the frame members for synchronous movement,and a plurality of spaced flights carried between and depending from theendless members toward the flights of the bottom conveyor, uprightflights of the bottom conveyor being paired with depending flights ofthe top conveyor to cooperatively engage the rear sides of articles andto individually advance the engaged articles over the supporting means,means providing for shifting the frame members vertically on thestructure for adjusting the top conveyor toward and away from the bottomconveyor to provide for articles having relatively large differences inheight, means engageable with the tops of articles advancing to thecutters to hold the articles down, and means supporting the hold-downmeans on the frame structure for vertical adjustment independent of saidvertical adjustment of the top conveyor whereby the hold-down can beshifted to provide adjustment for articles having relatively smalldifferences in height without moving the top conveyor.

19. In a slicing machine, a frame structure, spaced cutters and meansfor actuating the same, a bottom conveyor comprising means for slidinglysupporting articles advancing to the cutters, a plurality of spacedflights and means for moving the same over the article supporting means,

and means for holding the moving flights in upright position toengage'the rear sides of supported articles, a pair of spaced framemembers secured to the structure and extending therefrom in generallyparallel relation over the bottom conveyor, a top conveyor comprisingspaced parallel endless members and means mounting the same on the framemembers for synchronous movement, a plurality of spaced flights carriedbetween the endless members and pivoted thereto, and means guiding saidlast named flights over a predetermined path and dependent from theendless members as they move toward the cutters, each of the flights ofthe top conveyor being paired as it moves toward the cutters with one ofthe flights of the bottom conveyor so that each pair of flights engagesthe rear side of an article to individually advance the engaged articleinto the cutters, and means for shifting the frame members vertically onthe supporting frame to move the top conveyor toward and away from thebottom conveyor and the individual flights of each pair toward and awayfrom one another.

ARTHUR A. KO'I'IMANN.

